th so many diamonds circulating through Antwerp, it is virtually impossible to tell if a specific diamond may have been mined in an area of conflict. Most diamond traders in Antwerp dont rely upon hard fact as to where their diamonds come from, but merely upon trust. Although a certificate of origin comes with most diamonds these are easy to forge and replicate.The city of Antwerp is a thriving business center. There are thirty thousand people employed in diamond commerce and industry and Antwerp has an 85% share in the global offer of rough diamonds. (DMA) Of course there are no published statistics detailing the amount of illegally mined and traded diamonds that come through. The only protection against smuggled diamonds is a customs office. It is not very hard for a smuggler to avoid being caught by a customs official when crossing borders. Neither the Government of Belgium nor the HRD have estimates of the quantity or source of smuggled diamonds. In addition, there are few active policies aimed at controlling diamond smuggling. (PACNET)Due to the lack of policing in Antwerp, the city has become the global capital for smuggled diamonds. As noted before, the only way in which diamonds are traced is by documentation of the last country from which the diamond was last exported. This nation does not necessarily have to be its nation of the diamonds origin. A major problem with the Belgian environment - as it pertains to SierraLeone or any other diamond producing country - is the lack of interest andinformation on the true source of the diamonds entering the country. (PACNET) In reality, the country of origin of the diamonds is not the top issue on the minds of diamond investors in Antwerp.In conclusion, diamonds are a fuel for both economic prosperity and at the same time drive other economies into the ground. Countries such as Angola, Sierra Leone, and Liberia have suffered immensely as a consequence of being diamond rich...
